Monthly Archives: October 2016

Quandaries -the buffet- update

Posted on October 24, 2016 by coteetcampagne

              So, I dredged up the photo above-left-, which is the only photo I had of the QB (Quandary Buffet) taken when we bought it. Surrounded by stuff. Next time we saw it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Antique and Vintage finds, Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Friday French Property P**n – Four modestes maisons

Posted on October 22, 2016 by coteetcampagne

I know it’s Saturday, but I had a very, very, long and arduous day yesterday so forgive my tardiness.   I would love to find a big, old wall panel like this-left. The inset cupboard- right is very much like … Continue reading →

Posted in Antique and Vintage finds, Art, design and inspiration blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

An enigmatic Spanish lady

Posted on October 20, 2016 by coteetcampagne

Is she Spanish? I can’t say for certain, but that’s my feeling. Painted in gouache in a frame that suggests it’s original because it is of the same vintage as her dress. Properly made gilt frame with the red underpainting … Continue reading →

Posted in Antique and Vintage finds, Art, design and inspiration blog | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Quandaries

Posted on October 17, 2016 by coteetcampagne

The best laid plans of mice and men and French country village house restorers gang aft astray. They do. When I bought this heavily carved buffet de cuisine it was always intended to be the dramatic focal point of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Antique and Vintage finds, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Episode 147 part two- in which we show why we blew the b****y doors off

Posted on October 14, 2016 by coteetcampagne

So, there were two of these horrible doors.We took them off and removed the chipboard lower shelves.   We put up these carved and gilded fruitwood panels that came from a Georgian house in the UK (1817) not as deep … Continue reading →

Posted in Antique and Vintage finds, Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

I’m not saying my partner is displaying a degree of ocd, but…..

Posted on October 13, 2016 by coteetcampagne

Its weird. Trev is happy to exist in the necessary chaos around us in France but I am reaching the end of my patience with this project now. I want clean. I want to go look for something in it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Finishing a table top.

Posted on October 11, 2016 by coteetcampagne

It’s a real pain when you find that , once you have laboriously taken bits of grotty  old varnish off your dining table, the stain once used on this piece has soaked right down into it and it’s STILL DIRTY … Continue reading →

Posted in Antique and Vintage finds, Renovation and restoration diary- France, What we did, how we did it and what we used | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

The mirrors are coming out.. 

Posted on October 8, 2016 by coteetcampagne

  The mirrors are being unpacked. No, we are nowhere near finishing. But my mirrors are important in the great scheme of things and will manipulate the light in each space. Coincidentally, the first two out of their box are … Continue reading →

Posted in Antique and Vintage finds, Art, design and inspiration blog | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Episode 147 – in which we finally blow the b****y doors off!

Posted on October 7, 2016 by coteetcampagne

I hate these sapele sixties doors. They were everywhere in the house when we acquired it. They are no use for repurposing any place and we can’t chop them up and throw them in the wood burner, so they’ll have … Continue reading →

Posted in Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

An early Thursday Three – a marriage made in heaven

Posted on October 4, 2016 by coteetcampagne

        So we picked up this mirror , purchased on ebay, on Sunday. Look at those feet! Beautiful carving, I’ll post better photos soon I promise. On Monday a very nice man GAVE us this cabinet below … Continue reading →

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Walls, cranes, Walter Crane……back on the paper trail

Posted on October 1, 2016 by coteetcampagne

I found this image -left-on pinterest, but I’ve lost the link . I’m sure it was posted by a James in Scotland; I racked my brain for ages trying to think what it reminded me of. Then I got it. … Continue reading →

Posted in Antique and Vintage finds, Art, design and inspiration blog, Renovation and restoration diary- France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments